Whitehorse News - August 2022

Care that is culturally aware

Dorothy Yiu OAM JP was inspired to pursue a career in social work as a teenager. Nowadays, she is the president and volunteer manager of the Chinese Cancer and Chronic Illness Society of Victoria (CCCIS) in Box Hill.

The CCCIS provides support services and programs for people of Chinese descent who have been affected by cancer or chronic illness. It also delivers education about these illnesses that caters to the Chinese community and advocates for the cultural needs of people affected by illness.

“The Society was established in 1996 when we were approached by the Cancer Council Victoria to set up a support group catering to Chinese members of our community. Over time, more people sought support and friendship and more volunteers who wanted to help,” said Dorothy.

In January 2018, the Society changed its name to what it is today and expanded its services to support people from Chinese backgrounds who are suffering from chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

“The Society provides patients and their carers with practical support such as transport, free meals to the needy, respite and equipment loans,” said Dorothy.

“We also offer mental health services, support groups, community education and therapeutic programs such as gardening.”

The CCCIS works closely with palliative care services.

“We are committed to raising awareness of palliative care and advanced care planning (ACP). We use creative tools such as drama and animation to bring life to sensitive and taboo topics,” said Dorothy.

“The uptake of ACP within the Chinese community seems quite low. To address this, we have produced a bilingual booklet called ‘My Farewell Wishes’ to help people understand and prepare their ACP. We want our community to enjoy quality health care when they cannot make decisions for themselves.”

Language and cultural barriers can create significant hurdles when accessing healthcare and support. Addressing specific cultural customs is what makes the services provided by the CCCIS so unique and important.

“Within Chinese culture, death and dying remains a taboo subject. Many Chinese people struggle with discussions on prolonging life versus the quality of life of an individual and are reluctant to talk about death when there is a serious illness in the family. Our Society provides culturally-sensitive end-of-life support services to people with limited life expectancy and their carers at a time when they most need help,” said Dorothy.

In recognition of her hard work, Dorothy received the Cancer Council Victoria’s President’s Award in 2014 and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2016. Her and the team at the CCCIS are committed to developing and delivering of more support services to meet the needs to the Chinese community in Victoria.

“Volunteering gives me true happiness in my heart and I am pleased to see how the Society has evolved over 26 years. We will continue to provide hope and compassion to people who are battling cancer or other debilitating illnesses.”